Which Resorts Let You Use Their Facilities?

[MrPlum]

It occurs to me that with Resorts & Hotels suffering a drop in numbers they may be open to visitors coming in and using their facilities.... pool... spa... shops... restaurants... and so on. Has anyone 'dropped-in' to any of these. If so, which ones are Ok, what facilities will they let you use and do they charge?

Do they also discriminate between a foreigner alone and having a Thai partner and child accompanying you?

[hhfarang]

You may want to check with the Hilton. In the past if you joined their gym, you got an Id card that allowed you to park there, use all the facilities, and get discounts at their shopping outlets, bars, and restaurants.

They may have some kind of membership program like that at a lower cost if you don't want the gym membership. Their facilities are pretty nice.

[Cowtown Comedy]

The Sport Villa has always allowed day use of their pool, fitness, facility and restaurant. I believe the day use fee is 50 baht. It's a few notches below the Hilton, but clean and good value.

[Chas]

Hilton has divided the swimming pool from its membership cards. .in an effort to reduce the number of outsiders and non-guests coming in and taking over their sun lounges. . already in very short supply. Evidently they get a lot of complaints from folks who cant lounge in the sun!

I dont know the charge for the pool only, either a day rate or a membership, but I DO know that if you join their gym, the use of the pool is no longer included in that membership.

[JimmyGreaves]

I dont know the charge for the pool only, either a day rate or a membership, but I DO know that if you join their gym, the use of the pool is no longer included in that membership.

That's a bummer. Must have occured in the last few months only.

Does it apply only to new members?

Have they reduced the costs for the gym as facilities have been reduced?

Can you still use the car park?

[Chas]

When I go in, I will check the pool costs for you.

Membership still includes free parking. . but you have two hours to get out after your workout. ( They tightened that up earlier in the year. . and they check that you have the parking card stamped!)

Gym membership prices are exactly the same though. . and actually, I am not sure that they check all that carefully if you use the pool during an off-peak period. The change occurred in September actually, when I renewed.

The policy is a bit nutty since, of those of us who are members( according to our collective knowledge) only one member ever uses the pool regularly anyway. .and that in off peak times.

[lomuamart]

Interesting that it's mentioned that the change to usage of The Hilton's pool only came into effect recently.
I went to look at fitness membership some 3-4 years ago and was told that I couldn't use the pool as there was a lack of sunbeds. This was in the high season though.
I just walked out.

[hhfarang]

Hey Lomu,

I had a gym membership there during 2005 and 2006 and it included use of the underground parking facility, squash courts, tennis courts, pool tables, swimming pool, as well as discounts on their restaurant and spa services.

They must have either had more than one level of membership or the person you asked was misinformed.

It's a shame to hear they have eliminated the pool and maybe other items from that membership. I even used the parking when I was downtown to do other things outside the Hilton and just went to the front desk, showed them my membership card, and asked them to stamp my ticket each time... never a problem. Same at the pool; once or twice I was asked to show my membership card and once I even had a non-member guest with me and even that was ok.

[Chas]

I have a copy of the latest on gym membership at the Hilton. . picked one up last night.

To answer the OP on swimming pool use, it is not listed separately on the membership price list. I asked and there is no swimming pool membership or use available to non-guests UNLESS you get a one year gym membership for a whopping 25,000 baht. ( which also includes free tennis court use)

Basic one month membership ( restored recently) is 2,500 baht and includes parking, pool tables. ( They also offer 3 and 6 month memberships and two versions of a one year membership. .18,000 baht does not include tennis court or swimming pool)

[hhfarang]

Aha!.... There's the answer... I had the yearly membership, which was only 20,000 then. The monthly membership was 2000 so if you were going to use it all year the annual one was cheaper!